Some of you may remember H.R. 4081: 110th Congress, 2007-2008, The PACT Act. "To prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes." On Sep 10, 2008 7:41PM, this passed. 88% of the house (379 votes) approved it, and only 3% (12 votes) said no. With all present and 42 (10%) not voting on it. 2/3 of 391 votes (261) was required to pass it.
Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from New York (the state with the highest tobacco taxes already, go figure), sponsered this. The stated purpose of this bill? "[to give] law enforcement new tools to crack down on smugglers of tobacco and curb illicit tobacco sales over the Internet." The real reason for this is MONEY. "By some estimates, New York state loses $1 billion from tobacco smuggling", Rep. Anthony Weiner stated. It would become a felony to sell tobacco [to the United States] and violate tax law in the United States. But it's okay. The rich big wigs can still have their cigars. They're exempt. The 110th Senate version? S.1027. (identical to HR 4081).
And now....
On March 23, 2009, a Bill was introduced in the the House of Representatives (HR 1676) by Congressman Anthony D. Weiner of New York, which was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill states, "To prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes." This will deem ALL cigarettes/smokeless tobacco non-mailable through USPS. FedEx, UPS and DHL have voluntarily agreed not to ship cigarettes. Failure to comply with state tax laws by any seller via telephone, mail, or internet would be a federal offense.
May 21, 2009 1:53PM, this passed. 397 said yes (92% of the vote), 11 said no (only 3% of the vote) 25 didn't vote. They only needed 272 votes, which they of course received. This bill has passed the house and is waiting on to be voted on by the Senate.
What does the "and for other purposes" in the bill mean? Regulating smokeless tobacco, as well as setting up a process of keeping track of deliveries and those who deliver cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. This includes snus, guys! As snus is sold primarily over the internet (unless you're lucky enough to have General sold in your area), if this goes through the Senate we will not be able to buy snus over the internet any longer. Freaking out yet? I know I have been. Many people in my close circle have already stocking up, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't been doing the same.
So what now? The next meeting of the Senate is 1 Jun 2009. (Monday). The Senate version of this bill (S. 1147) was introduced by Herb Kohl, a Dem from Wisconsin. The current status/last action? May 21, 2009: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, which has 19 members. The members:
Patrick Leahy D-VT
Benjamin Cardin D-MD
Thomas Coburn R-OK
John Cornyn R-TX
Richard Durbin D-IL
Russell Feingold D-WI
Dianne Feinstein D-CA
Lindsey Graham R-SC
Charles Grassley R-IA
Orrin Hatch R-UT
Edward Kaufman D-DE
Amy Klobuchar D-MN
Herbert Kohl D-WI (introduced the bill)
Jon Kyl R-AZ
Charles Schumer D-NY
Jefferson Sessions R-AL
Arlen Specter D-PA
Sheldon Whitehouse D-RI
Ron Wyden D-OR
What can we do? ACT! Get emails out to not only these people specifically, but to your local senators as well! http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...nators_cfm.cfm has a list of them, do something! Write letters, make phone calls, send emails. It's in committee now. We need to do something. Tell them your story, let them know about snus as a harm reduced tobacco, and that we will NOT STAND for Taxation Without Representation!
Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from New York (the state with the highest tobacco taxes already, go figure), sponsered this. The stated purpose of this bill? "[to give] law enforcement new tools to crack down on smugglers of tobacco and curb illicit tobacco sales over the Internet." The real reason for this is MONEY. "By some estimates, New York state loses $1 billion from tobacco smuggling", Rep. Anthony Weiner stated. It would become a felony to sell tobacco [to the United States] and violate tax law in the United States. But it's okay. The rich big wigs can still have their cigars. They're exempt. The 110th Senate version? S.1027. (identical to HR 4081).
And now....
On March 23, 2009, a Bill was introduced in the the House of Representatives (HR 1676) by Congressman Anthony D. Weiner of New York, which was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill states, "To prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes." This will deem ALL cigarettes/smokeless tobacco non-mailable through USPS. FedEx, UPS and DHL have voluntarily agreed not to ship cigarettes. Failure to comply with state tax laws by any seller via telephone, mail, or internet would be a federal offense.
May 21, 2009 1:53PM, this passed. 397 said yes (92% of the vote), 11 said no (only 3% of the vote) 25 didn't vote. They only needed 272 votes, which they of course received. This bill has passed the house and is waiting on to be voted on by the Senate.
What does the "and for other purposes" in the bill mean? Regulating smokeless tobacco, as well as setting up a process of keeping track of deliveries and those who deliver cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. This includes snus, guys! As snus is sold primarily over the internet (unless you're lucky enough to have General sold in your area), if this goes through the Senate we will not be able to buy snus over the internet any longer. Freaking out yet? I know I have been. Many people in my close circle have already stocking up, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't been doing the same.
So what now? The next meeting of the Senate is 1 Jun 2009. (Monday). The Senate version of this bill (S. 1147) was introduced by Herb Kohl, a Dem from Wisconsin. The current status/last action? May 21, 2009: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, which has 19 members. The members:
Patrick Leahy D-VT
Benjamin Cardin D-MD
Thomas Coburn R-OK
John Cornyn R-TX
Richard Durbin D-IL
Russell Feingold D-WI
Dianne Feinstein D-CA
Lindsey Graham R-SC
Charles Grassley R-IA
Orrin Hatch R-UT
Edward Kaufman D-DE
Amy Klobuchar D-MN
Herbert Kohl D-WI (introduced the bill)
Jon Kyl R-AZ
Charles Schumer D-NY
Jefferson Sessions R-AL
Arlen Specter D-PA
Sheldon Whitehouse D-RI
Ron Wyden D-OR
What can we do? ACT! Get emails out to not only these people specifically, but to your local senators as well! http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...nators_cfm.cfm has a list of them, do something! Write letters, make phone calls, send emails. It's in committee now. We need to do something. Tell them your story, let them know about snus as a harm reduced tobacco, and that we will NOT STAND for Taxation Without Representation!
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